Parachute apparatus

ABSTRACT

A parachute apparatus which includes a plurality of identical parachutes, each of which has a canopy, with the parachutes releasably connected together by a clustering web assembly. When the parachute apparatus is deployed with a common payload, the parachutes, with the clustering web assembly releasably connected thereto, form a cluster and carry the common payload. The web assembly holds a portion of the canopy of each of the parachutes in a reefed condition. At a preselected time, or at a preselected atmospheric pressure (or altitude), during descent of the clustered parachutes, the web assembly permits the simultaneous disreefing of all of the parachute canopies. As a result, all of the canopies simultaneously open; then they spread; and, then they inflate to the fully open position, simultaneously. Therefore, none of the canopies need be designed to withstand the overload which normally occurs because of the frequent nonsimultaneous opening, and subsequent non-simultaneous inflating, of the canopies in a cluster of parachutes during descent. Further, the current need for the use of additional (and redundant) parachutes in a cluster to assure payload recovery when one or more canopies of the parachutes, which are normally in the cluster, fail to open and/or to inflate to the fully open position during descent, is obviated. The common payload is, thereby, safely delivered.

United States Patent 1191 Pinnell PARACl-IUTE APPARATUS [75] Inventor: William R. Pinnell, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: The United states of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: June 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,788

Primary Examiner--Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Rando1ph A. Reese Attorney-Harry A. Herbert, Jr. et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A parachute apparatus which includes a plurality of 1 1 Dec. 25, 1973 identical parachutes, each of which has a canopy, with the parachutes releasably connected together by a clustering web assembly. When the parachute apparatus is deployed with a common payload, the parachutes, with the clustering web assembly releasably connected thereto, form a cluster and carry the common payload. The web assembly holds a portion of the canopy of each of the parachutes in a reefed condition. At a preselected time, or at a preselected atmospheric pressure (or altitude), during descent of the clustered parachutes, the web assembly permits the simultaneous disreefing of all of the parachute canopies. As a result, all of the canopies simultaneously open; then they spread; and, then they inflate to the fully open position, simultaneously. Therefore, none of the canopies need be designed to withstand the overload which normally occurs because of the frequent non-simultaneous opening, and subsequent nonsimultaneous inflating, of the canopies in a cluster of parachutes during descent. Further, the current need for the use of additional (and redundant) parachutes in a cluster to assure payload recovery when one or more canopies of the parachutes, which are normally in the cluster, fail to open. and/or to inflate to the fully open position during descent, is obviated. The common payload is, thereby, safely delivered.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEUmzs ms 3; 780.970

SHEET 2 BF 4 'UFIEOQ PAIENIEDums 1915 3,780,970

sum 3 0F 4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the parachute art and, more particularly, to a parachute apparatus which includes a cluster of parachutes.

Parachute clusters, as such, are not new in the art. They are well known; and, it is fair and accurate to say, that it is equally well known in the art that, during descent, the operation of clustered parachutes is characterized, at best, by some degree of non-simultaneity during the opening-spreading-inflating sequential process which hopefully leads to the fully open position of the canopies in the cluster of parachutes. Often a canopy (or some of the canopies) in a cluster will open and inflate to the fully open position more rapidly than the other canopies in the cluster, thereby causing structural overloads on the early opening canopy (or' canopies), and aerodynamic and mechanical interference, which result in excessive filling times for the total cluster, or even inflation failure in the late-opening canopy (or canopies). Therefore, it has been found necessary to construct the parachutes, and of course the canopy of each parachute, of a cluster, so that any one parachute can withstand the entire impact of the payload and can control the payload. Further, since, despite the best efforts and intentions of scientists, engineers, designers, technicians and the like, one or more of the parachute canopies which are normally in the cluster may fail to open, or may open but may fail to fully inflate, it is customary in some situations in the art to include additional (i.e., and redundant or back-up) parachutes in the cluster to assure safe recovery of the payload.

It is clear, therefore, that there is a genuine and critical need for a parachute apparatus that includes a cluster of parachutes of which all the individual or respective canopies thereof will simultaneously, and reliably, open; will then spread; and will, thereafter inflate to the fully open position simultaneously.

I have invented such a parachute apparatus; and, thereby, I have significantly advanced the state-of-theart.

This invention pertains to a novel parachute apparatus which includes, but is not limited to, a cluster of parachutes and a clustering web assembly.

As a preliminary matter, it is to be noted and understood that the word open, as used herein, is intended to mean the initial opening of the canopy of a parachute, and not the fully open position thereof, and that the term deploy" or the like, as used herein, is intended to mean, in addition to its usual meaning, the inflight use of a parachute apparatus, parachute, canopy, or the like.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a cluster of parachutes, the canopies of which will open, spread, and inflate to the fully open position simultaneously, and, thereby, will provide the necessary reliability and operational confidence to the user of the cluster, without the present art-conceded needs: (1) of designing each canopy of each parachute to withstand the overload due to non-simultaneity in attaining the full opening of the canopies; and (2) of using additional (i.e., redundant) parachutes in the cluster to assure payload recovery, when one or more of the canopies of the parachutes in the cluster, which canopies would normally and numerically be sufficient for the purpose, fail to inflate to the fully open position.

The principal object, and other equally important and related objects (such as providing a simple, reliable, and unique clustering web assembly), of this invention will become readily apparent after a consideration of the description of my invention and reference to the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in schematic I fonn, of a preferred embodiment of my invention while it is in the initial stage of deployment;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, in schematic form, of a major component, i.e., the clustering web assembly, of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in cross-section and in simplified schematic form, of a portion of the major component shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in cross-section and in simplified schematic form, of another portion of the major component shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, in simplified schematic form, of the clustering web assembly component of my invention, and of one of the canopies, a representative canopy, of a parachute of the plurality of parachutes of my invention, showing how the clustering web assembly is connected to the representative canopy, and showing how a portion of the canopy is reefed, and also showing in phantom how the reefed portion of the canopy is stowed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, in simplified schematic form, showing enlarged and in detail, a portion of my inventive means for reefing a representative canopy of a parachute of my plurality of parachutes, and also showing in phantom the relative position of a portion of the reefed canopy;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, in schematic form, of a preferred embodiment of my inventive means for simultaneously disreefing the reefed canopies of my parachute cluster; and,

FIG. 8 is a top plan view, in schematic form, of another preferred embodiment of my inventive means for simultaneously disreefing the reefed canopies of my parachute cluster.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, therein is shown a perspective view, partially in schematic form, of a preferred embodiment 10 of my invention while it is in the initial stage of deployment.

It is here to be noted that my invention can be adapted by persons of ordinary skill in the art for any one or more of many uses. However, in the interest of simplicity, and solely by way of illustration, and not by way of any limitation, my invention will be described as structured in a preferred embodiment 10 for use in the aerial delivery of a payload.

Again, with reference to FIG. 1, my preferred embodiment 10 includes a plurality of parachutes, preferably three, such as 21, 22 and 23. For illustrative purposes, the parachutes 21, 22 and 23, are, but need not be, identical. Each of the parachutes has a canopy, such as 24 for parachute 21, 25 for parachute 22, and 26 for parachute 23. As a matter of preference and not of limitation, each canopy is of the gore type, although of course it need not be. Each canopy, such as 24, 25 and 26, has, respectively, a canopy skirt such as 27, 28 and 29, and each canopy skirt has a periphery, such as 30 for canopy skirt 27, 31 for canopy skirt 28, and 32 for canopy skirt 29. Each canopy has a first plurality of reefing rings, designated generally as 33 for canopy 24, 34 for canopy 25, and 35 for canopy 26, attached to, and evenly spaced along, a selected portion of the periphery of the particular canopy skirt.

Again with reference to FIG. 1, my preferred embodiment also includes means, leading from each canopy skirt, for removably securing each canopy to a payload, such as 100, which said payload is common to all of the parachutes, such as 21, 22 and 23, of the plurality of parachutes and, of course, to the canopy of each parachute. The common payload 100 removably securing means includes, as to each parachute, and to the canopy thereof, a plurality of suspension lines, generally designated as 36 for canopy 24, 37 for canopy 25, and 38 for canopy 26, which lead from the skirt of each canopy to the common payload 100. Each suspension line, such as representative suspension line 39, of each plurality of suspension lines, such as 36, has two ends, such as 39A and 398, with one end, such as 39A, attached to its respective canopy, such as 24, at the skirt thereof, such as 30, and evenly spaced along the skirt, and with the other end, such as 398, leading from the skirt to the common payload 100. In this adaptation, each suspension line, such as 39, of each plurality of suspension lines, such as 36, is of equal length.

Still with reference to FIG. 1, my preferred embodiment 10 also includes means, common to the canopy of each parachute of the plurality of parachutes, such as 21, 22 and 23, for connecting each parachute of the plurality to each other, i.e., together, and thereby forming a cluster of parachutes. Said common connecting means is designated generally as 50 in FIG. 1 and, as a matter of preference and not of limitation, permits in this adaptation the releasable connection, rather than fixed or permanent connection, of each parachute, and the respective canopy thereof, to each other. Said common releasable connecting means 50 may comprise, or may include, a clustering web assembly, which will be shown in detail in other Figures, which will be discussed and described immediately hereinafter, and which will be designated as 50, since for the purpose of this adaptation, i.e., preferred embodiment 10, it (i.e., the clustering web assembly) is, in fact, the common releasable connecting means.

Now, with reference to F IG. 2, therein is shown, in a top plan view and in schematic form, my clustering web assembly 50 (i.e., the common releasable connecting means), which includes a web 51, which further includes a panel 52 having a perimeter 53, and a panel top surface 52A and a panel bottom surface 52B. Panel 52 is preferably made of nylon duck cloth. Perimeter 53 of panel 52 has portions thereof, three in this adaptation, such as 54, 55 and 56, each of which is suitably shaped and sized to accept and to abut with the canopy, such as 24, 25 and 26, of a different one of the parachutes, such as 21, 22 and 23, when each said canopy, or a portion thereof, is reefed. In this adaptation, the perimeter 53 of panel 52 is substantially triangular in form, with each side of the triangle shaped in the form of an outwardly facing arc, such as 54, 55 and 56, with said arc being of the same length, and also with each said arc being circumferential portions of circles of the same radius. These arcs 54, 55 and 56 are suitably shaped and sized to accept and to abut with, respectively, canopies 24, 25 and 26, when each canopy, or a portion thereof, is in a reefed condition. In other words, arcs 54, 55 and 56 are, respectively, complementary to the correspondingly selected portion of the reefed periphery of the particular canopy skirt which the particular are abuts, and vice versa.

With reference to FIG. 3, therein is shown a side ele vation view, in cross-section and in simplified schematic form, of the clustering web assembly 50 shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. Panel 52 of web 51 of clustering web 50 has attached thereto, preferably with nylon thread(s), represented by 57A, 57B, 57C and 57D, and by stitching, reinforcement webbing 58A and 583, at panel perimeter 53, on, respectively, panel top surface 52A and panel bottom surface 528. Said webbing 58A and 58B reinforces said panel 52. Binding tape 59 is attached to panel 52 and to reinforcement webbing 58A and 588, at the perimeter 53 of panel 52, thereby further reinforcing panel 53. The attachment of binding tape 59 is preferably with nylon thread(s) such as 57C and 57D and by stitching thereof.

With reference to FIG. 4, therein is shown a side elevation view, in cross-section and in simplified schematic form, of the clustering web assembly 50, shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2. Panel perimeter 53 of panel 52 of web 51 of clustering web assembly 50 has attached thereto, preferably by nylon thread(s), such as represented by 62A and 62B, and by stitching, a plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops (such as represented in part in FIG. 2 by reference numerals 60A-60G, inclusive, and collectively by 60, and in FIG. 4 by reference numeral 60A for a representative loop). Each of the plurality 60 of the tubular nylon webbing loops, such as 60A, FIGS. 2 and 4, is evenly spaced along perimeter 53 of panel 52; and, in this adaptation, is also attached to reinforcing webbing 58A and 58B and binding tape 59. Additionally, each tubular nylon webbing loop, such as 60A, FIGS. 2 and 4, captively holds a reefing ring, such as 61A. There is, of course, a plurality 61 (hereinafter referred to a second plurality) of such reefing rings, and part of said second plurality of pictorially represented in FIG. 2 as 61A- 61G, inclusive. Of course, the tubular nylon webbing loops, such as 60A, FIGS. 2 and 4, with their respective reefing rings, such as 61A, FIGS. 2 and 4, are positioned at and on perimeter 53 of panel 52 and, in this adaptation, along arcs 54, 55 and 56, FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 5, therein is shown a top plan view, in simplified schematic form, of the clustering web assembly 50 of my invention and of one of the canopies 26, (a representative canopy) of one of the parachutes 23 (A representative parachute) of the plurality of parachutes, such as 21, 22 and 23 of my invention, showing how the clustering web assembly 50 is connected (removably in this adaptation) to the representative canopy 26 and how a portion 26 of canopy 26 is reefed, and also showing in phantom how the reefed portion 26 of canopy 26 is stowed. Also shown in FIG. 5: are representative unreefed gores 26A-26H, inclusive, of canopy 26 of representative parachute 23; representative suspension lines 41-49 of representative parachute 23; canopy skirt 29 of canopy 26; periphery 32 of canopy skirt 29; and representative reefing line 63, of a plurality of reefing lines, with one reefing line for each parachute, such as 23, of the plurality of parachutes, such as 21, 22 and 23, and with each reefing line, such as 63, having two ends, such as 63A and 638, with each of the two ends attached to the respective parachute, such as 23, of said reefing line, such as 63. In this adaptation, one reefing line end 63A is attached, preferably by tieing, to canopy reefing line loop 63C which, in turn, is attached preferably by sewing, to canopy skirt 29 of canopy 26 of parachute 23. The other reefing line end 638 is similarly attached to canopy reefing line loop 63D. The other reefing lines are similarly attached to their respective parachutes. The canopy reefing line loops, such as 63C and 63D, are attached, preferably by sewing, near the seam of each first unreefed gore, such as 26A and 26H.

Also shown in FIG. 5 are: web 51, web panel 52; panel perimeter 53; panel perimeter arc (or curved) portions 54, 55 and 56, with each panel perimeter portion, such as 56, shaped and sized to accept and to abut with the reefed portion (i.e., the correspondingly selected portion which is complementary), such as 26', of its respective canopy, such as 26, of its respective parachute, such as 23; a representative plurality of reefing rings, such as 35, for its respective canopy, such as 26; and, a representative plurality of tubular nylon webbingloops, such as 60, for its respective web panel perimeter portion, such as 56, with each tubular nylon webbing loop captively holding its respective reefing ring of a second plurality of reefing rings which are general designated as 61 in FIG. 5. In the interest of not unnecessarily encumbering FIG. 5, the other parachutes, such as 21 and 22, FIG. 1, and their respective canopies, gores, canopy skirts, peripheries, canopy reefing rings, and suspension lines are not shown in FIG. 5. Additionally, also in the interest of avoiding confusion with regard to the drawing, the plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops, and the second plurality of reefing rings for said loops, for the other panel perimeter are portions, such as 54 and 55, are also not shown in FIG. 5. However, in this adaptation, all comparable components not shown in FIG. 5 are identical to the components shown therein. It is to be particularly noted that each of the canopy reefing rings, shown as a representative plurality by 35, FIGS. 1 and 5, and each of the Webb panel loop reefing rings, shown as a representative plurality by 61, FIGS. 2 and 5, positionally alternate (e.g., web panel reefing ring-canopy reefing ring-web panel reefing ring-etc.); and that they, the web panel reefing rings and the canopy reefing rings, are in juxtaposed relationship to each other, and that the particular or appropriate reefing line, such as represented by 63, FIG. 5, passes through each of the reefing rings, such as 35, FIGS. 1 and 5, and 61, FIGS. 2 and 5.

With reference to FIG. 6, therein is shown, in simplified schematic form, enlarged and in detail, a portion of my inventive means for reefing a representative canopy of a parachute of my plurality of parachutes, and in phantom, the relative position of a portion of the reefed canopy. More specifically, shown are: representative tubular nylon webbing loops 60A, 60B, and 60C, with their respective captively held reefing rings 61A, 61B, and 61C; representative reefing rings 35A and 35B of representative reefed gores portion 26' of representative canopy 26; and representative reefing line 63.

The webbing loop reefing rings, such as 61A, 61B and 61C, and the canopy reefing rings, such as 35A and 35B, are positioned and disposed alternately with, and in juxtaposed relation to, each other. The appropriate and representative reefing line, such as 63, passes through all of the rings, alternately.

With reference to FIG. 7, therein is shown, in a top plan view and in schematic form, a preferred embodiment of my inventive means for simultaneously disreefing the reefed canopies of my cluster of parachutes. Shown are: web 51 with panel 52; panel perimeter 53; panel perimeter arc (or curved) portions or sides 54, 55 and 56, for respectively, canopy 24 of parachute 21, FIG. 1, canopy 25 of parachute 22, FIG. I, and canopy 26 of parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5 of my preferred embodiment 10, FIG. 1; reefing lines 63, 64 and 65, for, respectively, parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, parachute 21, FIG. 1, and parachute 22, FIG. 1, with said reefing line 63 having two ends, 63A and 63B, and said reefing line 64 having two ends, 64A and 64B, and with said reefing line 65 having two ends, 65A and 65B; canopy skirt reefing loops 63C and 63D, FIG. 5, of canopy 26 of parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, with end 63A of reefing line 63 tied to loop 63C, and with end 638 of reefing line 63 tied to loop 63D; canopy skirt reefing loops 64C and 64D, of canopy 24 of parachute 21, FIG. 1, with end 64A of reefing line 64 tied to loop 64C, and with end 648 of reefing line 64 tied to loop 64D; canopy skirt reefing loops 65C and 65D, of canopy 25 of parachute 22, FIG. 1, with end 65A of reefing line 65 tied to loop 65C, and with end 65B of reefing line 65 tied to loop 65D; and suitably positioned conventional reefing line cutters 71, 72 and 73 for cutting, respectively, reefing lines 64, 65 and 63, with said reefing line cutters having a common arming lanyard 74 having two ends, 74A and 748, with one end 74A leading to and attached to a suitable pulling means, such as a suspension line of one of the plurality of suspension lines of one of the plurality of parachutes, as is conventionally done and with the other end 748 having branches or leads therefrom and thereof, such as 74C connected to cutter 71, 74D connected to cutter 72, and 745 connected to cutter 73, thereby permitting the simultaneous activation of cutters 71, 72 and 73 and the resultant simultaneous cutting of reefing line 64 by cutter 71, of reefing line 65 by cutter 72, and of reefing line '63 by cutter 73, and the subsequent resultant simultaneous disreefing, respectively, of canopy 24 of parachute 21, FIG. 1, of canopy 25 of parachute 22, FIG. 1, and of canopy 26 of parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5. As previously stated, reefing line cutters 71, 72 and 73 (and, of course, arming lanyard 74) are conventional. The simultaneous cutting of the reefing lines by their respective cutters may be made to occur at a preselected time, or at a preselected atmospheric pressure (or altitude), during descent (i.e., deployment) of the clustered parachutes. As a related matter, it is to be noted that, for redundancy, two cutters (and their associated cooperative components thereof) may be incorporated at each location, i.e., the location of cutter 71, the location of cutter 72, and the location of cutter 73. Additionally, as a matter of maintaining simplicity of FIG. 7, the canopy reefing rings, such as 35, FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the web panel tubular nylon webbing loops, such as 60, FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, and the reefing rings thereof, such as 61, FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, and other related components are not shown in FIG. 7.

With reference to FIG. 8, therein is shown, in a top plan view and in schematic form, another preferred embodiment of my inventive means for simultaneously disreefing the reefed canopies of my cluster of parachutes. Shown are: web 51 with panel 52; panel perimeter 53; panel perimeter arc (or curved) portions or sides 54, 55 and 56, for, respectively, canopy 24 of parachute 21, FIG. 1, canopy 25 of parachute 22, FIG. 1, and canopy 26 of parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, of my preferred embodiment 10, FIG. 1; reefing lines 63, 64 and 65, for, respectively, parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, parachute 21, FIG. 1, and parachute 22, FIG. 1, with said reefing line 63 having two ends, 63A and 63B, and said reefing line 64 having two ends, 64A and 64B, and with said reefing line 65 having two ends, 65A and 65B; canopy skirt reefing loops 63C and 63D, FIG. 5, of canopy 26 of parachute 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, with end 63A of reefing line 63 tied to loop 63C, and with end 63B of reefing line 63 tied to loop 63D; canopy skirt reefing loops 64C and 64D, of canopy 24 of parachute 21, FIG. 1, with end 64A of reefing line 64 tied to loop 64C, and with end 648 of reefing line 64 tied to loop 64D; canopy skirt reet'mg loops 65C and 65D, of canopy 25 of parachute 22, FIG. 1, with end 65A of reefing line 65 tied to loop 65C, and with end 658 of reefing line 65 tied to loop 65D; and suitably positioned conventional reefing line cutter 75, common to reefing lines 64, 65 and 63, with said common reefmg line cutter 75 having an arming lanyard 76 having two ends, 76A and 768, with one end 76A attached to a suitable pulling means, such as a suspension line of one of the plurality of suspension lines of one of the plurality of parachutes, as is conventionally done, and with the other end 768 connected to the common reefing line cutter 75, thereby permitting the activation of reefing line cutter 75, and the resultant simultaneous cutting by cutter 75 of reefing lines 63, 64 and 65, and the subsequent resultant simultaneous disreefing, respectively, of canopy 24 of parachute 21, FIG. 1, of canopy 25 of parachute 22, FIG. 1, and of canopy 26 of parachute 23, FIGS. .1 and 5. The simultaneous cutting of reefing lines 63, 64 and 65 by common cutter 75 may be made to occur at a preselected time, or at a preselected atmospheric pressure (or altitude), during descent (i.e., deployment) of the clustered parachutes. As in the embodiment which includes a plurality of reefing line cutters, FIG. 7, the embodiment in FIG. 8 may incorporate, at the location of cutter 75, two or more cutters (and their associated cooperative components thereof), for redundancy. Also, similarly to FIG. 7, in the interest of maintaining simplicity of FIG. 8, the canopy reefing rings, the web panel tubular nylon webbing loops and the reefing rings thereof, and other related components are not shown in FIG. 8.

MODE OF OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The mode of operation of my preferred embodiment 10, FIG. 1, may be easily and rapidly ascertained by a person of ordinary skill in the art from the hereinabove description of the preferred embodiment, coupled with an examination of my FIGS. 1-8, herein. A detailed description of said operation is, therefore, not believed necessary. However, for the benefit of those not skilled in the art, the mode of operation of my preferred embodiment is succintly and, in essence, as follows:

When the parachute apparatus 10, FIG. 1, is deployed with its common payload 100, FIG. 1, the parachutes 21, 22 and 23, FIG. 1, with the clustering web assembly 50, FIGS. 1-8, releasably connected thereto, form a cluster and carry the common payload. The reefing line cutter 75, FIG. 8, is (or the reefing line cutters 71, 72 and 73, FIG. 7 are) automatically activated by the deployment. The web assembly is flat and holds a portion of the canopy of each of the parachutes in a reefed condition, as is shown in FIG. 5, without alteration of the length of the curved portions 54, 55 and 56, FIGS. 2, 5, 7 and 8, of the web assembly, and without slack in the reefing lines 63, 64 and 65, FIGS. 5-8. At a preselected time, or at a preselected atmospheric pressure (or altitude), during descent of the clustered parachutes, the reefing line cutter (or cutters) simultaneously cuts the reefing lines, thereby permitting and accomplishing the subsequent simultaneous disreefing of all of the canopies. As a result, all of the canopies simultaneously open, FIG. 1; then they spread; and, then they inflate to the fully open position, simultaneously. Thereby, the common payload is safely delivered.

In addition to the basic structural novelity of my inventive parachute apparatus, my invention attains the new, useful and unobvious result of reliability, a goal which has been long sought in the parachute art. Experimental tests of my parachute apparatus establish its reliability. Because of my teachings, it is, therefore, no longer necessary in the parachute art either to overdesign each parachute (and canopy thereof), or to provide additional (and redundant or back-up) para chutes, to insure safe delivery of the payload.

While there have been shown and described the fundamental features of my invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment and as adapted for a particular use and purpose, it is to be understood that various substitutions, omissions, additions, and adaptations can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, among other variations, the number of parachutes, the canopy size thereof, the degree or amount of reefing of each canopy, the configuration of the web panel, and the like, may be varied or otherwise changed. In addition, my inventive parachute apparatus can be used, or can be adapted to be used, for other applications and uses other than as shown and described with regard to the preferred embodiment, including, but not limited to: deceleration of aircraft, drones, missiles and the like; recovery of aircraft escape capsules; restriction of rate of descent of bombs, mines, flares, and the like; and, use by humans, such as pilots, paratroopers, and sky divers.

What is claimed is:

l. A parachute apparatus, comprising:

a. a plurality of parachutes, with each said parachute having:

I. a canopy, with said canopy having a canopy skirt with a periphery, and with said canopy having a first plurality of reefmg rings attached to, and evenly spaced along, a selected portion of said periphery of said canopy skirt;

2. and, means, leading from said canopy skirt, for removably securing said canopy to a payload which, when secured to said canopy, is common to all said parachutes of said plurality of parachutes;

b.- and, means, common to the said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, for releasably connecting each said parachute of said plurality of parachutes to each other, thereby forming a cluster of parachutes, wherein said releasable connectingmeans comprises a clustering web assembly which includes:

1. a web, which further includes a panel having a perimeter, with said perimeter having selected portions thereof, each of which is suitably shaped and sized to accept and to abut with a correspondingly selected portion of said canopy of a different parachute of said plurality of parachutes, when each said selected portion of said canopy is in a reefed condition;

2. and, means for releasably connecting said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes to said panel of said web, wherein said means includes:

a. means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, thereby forming a reefed portion of said can- P);

b. and, means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes. whereby each said canopy of each of parachute of said plurality, and of said cluster, of parachutes opens, spreads, and inflates to the fully open position simultaneously, with reference to each said canopy, when said parachute apparatus is deployed.

2. A clustering web assembly, as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said panel of said web of said web assembly:

a. is made of nylon duck cloth;

b. has a top surface and a bottom surface;

c. has attached thereto, with nylon thread, reinforcement webbing at said perimeter of said panel on both said top surface and said bottom surface of said panel, thereby reinforcing said panel;

d. and, has attached thereto and to said reinforcement webbing, with nylon thread, binding tape at said perimeter of said panel, thereby further reinforcing said panel.

3. A clustering web assembly, as set forth in claim 1,

wherein:

a. said means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes:

l. a plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops attached to, and evenly spaced along, a selected portion of said perimeter of said panel of said web;

2. a second plurality of reefing rings, with a different ring of said second plurality of reefing rings captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops;

3. and, a plurality of reefing lines, one reefing line for each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, with each said reefing line having two ends and with each end of said two ends attached to the respective parachute of said reefing line, and with each said reefing line passing through each of said reefing rings of said second plurality of reefing rings which is captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops, and with each said reefing line also passing through each reefing ring of said first plurality of reefing rings which are attached to, and are evenly spaced along, a correspondingly selected portion of the periphery of said canopy skirt of said canopy of said respective parachute, and with said reefing rings of said first plurality and with said reefing rings of said second plurality positionally located, with reference to each other, such that said reefing rings of said first plurality alternate with, and are in juxtaposed relation to, said reefing rings of said second plurality;

b. and, said means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes a plurality reefing line cutters, with one cutter for each reefing line of said plurality of reefing lines, with each said cutter suitably positioned to cut its respective reefing line simultaneously.

4. A clustering web assembly, as set forth in claim 1,

wherein:

a. said means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes:

l. a plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops attached to, and evenly spaced along, a selected portion of said perimeter of said panel of said web;

2. a second plurality of reefing rings, with a different ring of said second plurality of reefing rings captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops;

3. and, a plurality of reefing lines, one reefing line for each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, with each said reefing line having two ends and with each endof said two ends attached to the respective parachute of said reefing line, and with each said reefingline passing through each of said reefing rings of said second plurality of reefing rings which is captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops, and with each said reefing line also passing through each reefing ring of said first plurality of reefing rings which are attached to, and are evenly spaced along, a correspondingly selected portion of the periphery of said canopy skirt of said canopy of said respective parachute, and with said reefing rings of said first plurality and with said reefing rings of said second plurality positionally located, with reference to each other, such that said reefing rings of said first plurality alternate with, and are in juxtaposed relation to, said reefing rings of said second plurality;

b. and, said means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes one reefing line cutter which is common to, and is suitably positioned to cut, each of said plurality of reefing lines simultaneously. 

1. A parachute apparatus, comprising: a. a plurality of parachutes, with each said parachute having:
 1. a canopy, with said canopy having a canopy skirt with a periphery, and with said canopy having a first plurality of reefing rings attached to, and evenly spaced along, a selected portion of said periphery of said canopy skirt;
 2. and, means, leading from said canopy skirt, for removably securing said canopy to a payload which, when secured to said canopy, is common to all said parachutes of said plurality of parachutes; b. and, means, common to the said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, for releasably connecting each said parachute of said plurality of parachutes to each other, thereby forming a cluster of parachutes, wherein said releasable connecting means comprises a clustering web assembly which includes:
 1. a web, which further includes a panel having a perimeter, with said perimeter having selected portions thereof, each of which is suitably shaped and sized to accept and to abut with a correspondingly selected portion of said canopy of a different parachute of said plurality of parachutes, when each said selected portion of said canopy is in a reefed condition;
 2. and, means for releasably connecting said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes to said panel of said web, wherein said means includes: a. means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, thereby forming a reefed portion of said canopy; b. and, means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes. whereby each said canopy of each of parachute of said plurality, and of said cluster, of parachutes opens, spreads, and inflates to the fully open position simultaneously, with reference to each said canopy, when said parachute apparatus is deployed.
 2. and, means, leading from said canopy skirt, for removably securing said canopy to a payload which, when secured to said canopy, is common to all said parachutes of said plurality of parachutes; b. and, means, common to the said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, for releasably connecting each said parachute of said plurality of parachutes to each other, thereby forming a cluster of parachutes, wherein said releasable connecting means comprises a clustering web assembly which includes:
 2. and, means for releasably connecting said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes to said panel of said web, wherein said means includes: a. means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, thereby forming a reefed portion of said canopy; b. and, means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes. whereby each said canopy of each of parachute of said plurality, and of said cluster, of parachutes opens, spreads, and inflates to the fully open position simultaneously, with reference to each said canopy, when said parachute apparatus is deployed.
 2. a second plurality of reefing rings, with a different ring of said second plurality of reefing rings captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops;
 2. a second plurality of reefing rings, with a different ring of said second plurality of reefing rings captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops;
 2. A clustering web assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said panel of said web of said web assembly: a. is made of nylon duck cloth; b. has a top surface and a bottom surface; c. has attached thereto, with nylon thread, reinforcement webbing at said perimeter of said panel on both said top surface and said bottom surface of said panel, thereby reinforcing said panel; d. and, has attached thereto and to said reinforcement webbing, with nylon thread, binding tape at said perimeter of said panel, thereby further reinforcing said panel.
 3. and, a plurality of reefing lines, one reefing line for each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, with each said reefing line having two ends and with each end of said two ends attached to the respective parachute of said reefing line, and with each said reefing line passing through each of said reefing rings of said second plurality of reefing rings which is captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops, and with each said reefing line also passing through each reefing ring of said first plurality of reefing rings which are attached to, and are evenly spaced along, a correspondingly selected portion of the periphery of said canopy skirt of said canopy of said respective parachute, and with said reefing rings of said first plurality and with said reefing rings of said second plurality positionally located, with reference to each other, such that said reefing rings of said first plurality alternate with, and are in juxtaposed relation to, said reefing rings of said second plurality; b. and, said means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes a plurality reefing line cutters, with one cutter for each reefing line of said plurality of reefing lines, with each said cutter suitably positioned to cut its respective reefing line simultaneously.
 3. A clustering web assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes:
 3. and, a plurality of reefing lines, one reefing line for each parachute of said plurality of parachutes, with each said reefing line having two ends and with each end of said two ends attached to the respective parachute of said reefing line, and with each said reefing line passing through each of said reefing rings of said second plurality of reefing rings which is captively held, respectively, within and by a different tubular nylon webbing loop of said plurality of tubular nylon webbing loops, and with each said reefing line also passing through each reefing ring of said first plurality of reefing rings which are attached to, and are evenly spaced along, a correspondingly selected portion of the periphery of said canopy skirt of said canopy of said respective parachute, and with said reefing rings of said first plurality and with said reefing rings of said second plurality positionally located, with reference to each other, such that said reefing rings of said first plurality alternate with, and are in juxtaposed relation to, said reefing rings of said second plurality; b. and, said means for simultaneously disreefing said reefed portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes one reefing line cutter which is common to, and is suitably positioned to cut, each of said plurality of reefing lines simultaneously.
 4. A clustering web assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said means for reefing a portion of said canopy of each parachute of said plurality of parachutes includes: 